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[an_evening_star]

It was only after some time of soft words and sweet nonsense that they actually bothered to notice the rest of the world long enough to realize that they had acquired something of an audience - if a good natured, quietly amused, and genuinely congratulatory audience - and they had made their way, dripping and laughing and happily embarrassed, to seat themselves beside a campfire.

They remain there, in the company of a motley assortment of creatures and people, close and still slightly tangled as Tristran asks after the little hairy man he had met early on in his travels - and though several had spoken up as knowing him, none had seen him at the market this year.

The star, on the other hand, is a fair sight more than content to stay at the boy's side for the moment - thoughtful, perhaps, but rather alright with having no one to ask after for herself. She has what she needs right beside her, thank you very much.

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[tristranthorn]

His hand holds hers, fingers interlocking and with no intentions of letting go.

What a day this has been. He's never been happier.

"I have said my good-byes to my family," he tells her, with only a touch of sadness. Who knows when (or if) he'll ever see them again? "To my father, and my mother - my father's wife, perhaps I should say -- and to my sister, Louisa. I don't suppose I shall be going back again."

[an_evening_star]

"I don't think that birth has a complete right over how you categorize family, Tristran," she says, and though she doesn't lean over to physically poke him, the evidence is there in her voice.

One shouldn't just be discounting family, no matter how imperfect it is.

"And I could always wait for you again," she continues, leaning slightly against his side and examining their fingers. "If need be, of course."

[tristranthorn]

"You're right," he concedes, "but ... though she took great care of me -- and I will forever be grateful to her for that -- she never really felt like my mother." It was just something he knew. It also explains why he hadn't been too surprised when his father told him the truth.

He turns to kiss her hair quickly. "Thank you," he tells her. "Perhaps we can ask them to come and visit us one day. I'd like for you to meet everyone."

[an_evening_star]

"I'm wise and all-knowing. I know," she grins, squeezes his fingers, and though all of the glittering isn't exactly inconspicuous, she can't quite help it just yet. She'll figure out how to get rid of it later.

If she feels like it.

The smile flickers, a bit uncertain, "If you are certain that you want me to meet your family, I suppose it would be alright."

Because she's really good at that 'making first impressions' nonsense.

[tristranthorn]

"Of course I do," Tristran says, confusion flickering across his features as he frowns at her.

"Why wouldn't I?"

He's certain that they will love her, just as much as he loves her, because how could they not? But that is an issue for another day - he isn't so worried about that right now; he isn't really worried about anything right now.

[an_evening_star]

Yvaine really isn't the sort to outright admit that the concept of meeting his parents makes her squirmy and vaguely nervous. So she won't. If he wants to think flattering things about her, well there's no need to shatter those last bits of illusion just yet.

"Well," she says instead. "Are we even certain as to where they would be visiting us?"

She laughs then, amused and still slightly amazed, "Visiting us, honestly."

[tristranthorn]

"Well," Tristran says thoughtfully, then sheepishly he admits, "um. Not...not yet."

He really hadn't thought that far. He didn't exactly expect any of this anyway, so he's been forced to improvise.

"Yes, us." He grins. "It sounds nice, doesn't it?"

[an_evening_star]

"We'll think of something eventually," she shrugs. "As I am relatively certain that your family doesn't have your 'Oh, look - now I know where we're going, even though it is completely illogical.' abilities."

She tilts her head sideways slightly, resting it easily onto his shoulder and grinning back at him. They fit rather neatly, she must admit.

"I like it," she replies. "Could get used to it."

[tristranthorn]

Yes, they really do fit together quite neatly - it is rather perfect.

"I don't suppose I could go with you - into the sky - if we figure out how to do it, could we?" he tries, half-teasing.

[an_evening_star]

"I don't think that you'd like it very much in the sky," she assures him. "With that many sisters it is terribly difficult to get any sort of privacy."

Not that they - that she means -

She rather suddenly hopes that he's too occupied looking elsewhere to notice the flush across her cheeks before she can get rid of it.

"Hopefully they're sleeping," she adds with a wary glance upward.

[tristranthorn]

"Do you think they'd like me, if they met me?" he asks, following her glance upward. He'd rather hope they do, even though he hadn't...exactly treated Yvaine with very much respect (as her own star-person) in the beginning.

And for the record -- yes, he was a little preoccupied to notice her blushing. He's rather good at that.

[an_evening_star]

Good - because she's pretty sure that she's got it (mostly) under control by now.

"My sisters would be completely fascinated by you," she replies with a roll of her eyes. "You do forget that we very rarely get out, Tristran. It would be all cooing and fussing and - and I'm not letting them anywhere near you, come to think of it."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran laughs. "Ah, I see ..." he muses aloud, turning back to his star with a grin.

He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her slightly closer towards him. "I suppose we are just fine the way we are - where we are, anyway."

[an_evening_star]

"Right here?" she teases, though her lashes flutter slightly lower at the sweeping tingle that the contact starts.

She certainly isn't making any protest though.

"It might get a bit boring once the fair is gone, I am thinking."

[tristranthorn]

He drops a quick kiss to her temple - just because he can, now, and laughs again.

"I meant here, on earth. In England," he says matter-of-factly. "But in all honesty, where are we going to go once the market is done?"

[an_evening_star]

She's rather fond of this whole developing 'just because' business, and she smiles up at him for a moment in response.

"I do not know," she says and heaves an almost exasperated sigh. "But I have one obligation still to discharge."

[tristranthorn]

For a very brief moment -- a fleeting, panicked moment, really -- the pace of his heart quickens with worry or anxiety at that.

"You do?"

He hopes that whatever obligation this is does not require her to leave him for whatever reasons.

[an_evening_star]

She nods, still a bit sulkily.

"That topaz thing I showed you," her hand leaves his for a moment, to rest lightly at her waist. "I have to give it to the right person."

Yeah, because good luck with that one. It certainly worked out swimmingly last time.

"The last time the right person came along," she pauses, swallows. "Well, that innkeeper woman cut his throat, so I have it still. But I wish it were gone."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

A woman's voice drifts from somewhere over his shoulder, simple and factual, no footsteps and no grand entrance.

"Ask her for what she carries, Tristran Thorn."

[tristranthorn]

Surprised, but not enough to be shaken, Tristran turns to see a woman with meadow-violet coloured eyes, watching him carefully and not without the slightest touch of subtle fondness.

"You were the bird in the witch's caravan," he says, vaguely recognizing her.

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"When you were the dormouse, my son," she says, "I was the bird."

She doesn't move from her spot, and her voice does not waver as she admits this. "But now I have my own form again, and my time of servitude is over."

A smile, now. Encouraging. "Ask Yvaine for what she carries. You have the right."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran's mind is reeling with questions once more, but they are somehow subdued by the immediate request at hand.

He turns back to the star, blinking at her, half-confused, half-accepting of all this strangeness.

"Yvaine?"

[an_evening_star]

"Must you always be cryptic?" she mutters quietly to herself as they speak, distracted enough that she jumps slightly at the sound of her name.

She turns toward him, nodding a bit sheepishly.

[tristranthorn]

Not sure exactly what this woman -- his mother? -- has up her sleeve, he only looks at Yvaine, his expression intent.

"Yvaine, will you give me what you are carrying?" he asks, this time a little more formerly, this time a little more properly.

[an_evening_star]

"Oh," her lips twitch amusedly, before she attempts to match his formal expression. "Yes - yes, of course."

She reaches carefully into one of the folds of her dress, fumbles discreetly, and tugs out a large topaz stone on a broken silver chain.